The beauty of the snow-covered wilderness was undeniable, but its allure was deceptive. Underneath its serene exterior lay a slew of challenges and perils that made their journey far more complex and dangerous than they anticipated.
The group hadn't gotten very far away from the village because every step through the snow was an effort. With the ground covered in a thick layer of fresh snow, each footfall sank deep, laboriously slowing their progress.
Every sound was amplified in the silence that accompanied the snowfall, and every movement was a potential disturbance.
The silent rustle of leafless branches in the breeze, the whispers of snowflakes kissing the ground, and the distant hoot of an owl stood out against the white landscape's stillness.
The group would come to a halt every now and then. Alexia's sharp eyes would scan the sky, a mana arrow nocked and ready.